Law designed to battle synthetic drugs await governor's signature

Virginia lawmakers and the state Attorney General's Office are seeking Gov. Terry McAuliffe's signature on legislation designed to beef up the fight against synthetic drugs.

Legislation passed by the General Assembly is designed to give prosecutors and law enforcement officials more tools to keep dangerous synthetic drugs off the streets and away from young people, said a spokesman for Attorney General Mark Herring.

The legislation updates some definitions based on the latest chemistry and upgrades the criminal classification of selling or distributing the substances, the spokesman said. It also establishes a faster process for the Board of Pharmacy to add designer drugs to the controlled substances schedule so authorities can respond more quickly to emerging threats, the spokesman said.

In the past year, local, state and federal authorities have raided and shut down five Gloucester and Middlesex smoke shops and arrested 29 people in a crackdown on the sale of synthetic drugs such as spice and bath salts.